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REFORM IS ALIVE AND WELLPosted by Chairman on November 29, 2007 - 10:16am. Reform is alive and well Several political pundits and editorial pages across the Commonwealth used the recent statewide judicial election results to pronounce the “death” of legislative and political reform in Pennsylvania. Not only do I believe that reform’s death has been announced prematurely, but those of us committed can not allow it to be true. Every election is, by definition, a referendum on reform in some way. But when the measure of the reform movement’s success is a bar that never should have been set – the defeat of even the most qualified statewide judicial candidate up for retention – it confuses what can only be described as an unworthy and unwise publicity stunt with true reform. Reform is continuing in Harrisburg. To date we have passed more than 30 reforms in the House to make more openness and transparency in the process. Next week we will continue our debate on the state’s open records law. Coming up are serious conversations on campaign finance reform and reducing the cost of government -- two proposals that I authored. Put in perspective of the lack of reform in the last 30 years, reform today is moving at a quick pace, but we must accomplish a lot more. With the real impact reformers have had on elections over the last few years, lawmakers in Harrisburg are not trying to read the tea leaves of past elections to look for permission to stop working for reform. The men and women I’m working with every day on reform are committed to the cause. We cannot and will not let cynical observers dissuade us from doing what is right. The only people who are saying reform is dead are the people who never wanted reform in the first place. I do not accept their jaundiced assessment and neither should anyone else. -- Rep. Josh Shapiro, 153rd District |
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I agree too
Kenneth, I agree with your post, especially about pushing for serious legislative size reduction. It would be wonderful if areas outside of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia could have an equal voice in our state's policies and laws. But our party has played toward heavily urban areas for so long that I wonder if it knows how to compete outside of city lines, and if that's the reason why our party helps keeps the legislative deck stacked with Philadelphians and Pittsburghers.
I agree, too, that if our party was serious about reform it would root out its own corrupt leaders, so we don't have to humiliate ourselves ever again by, for example, having to vote in an opposition House leader, even though we're in the majority, because of our own party's top-runner's lack of credibility even among fellow Dems.
Our party is in serious need of pruning.
I'd like to see, too, a backlash against the reps that serve on PHEAA's board, and all other legislators who are so far removed from reality that they see no problem with lavishing gifts on themselves paid for by us. Our leaders need to stop acting like Republicans.
There will be several signs in the heavens that signify the start of real reform:
:The likes of DeWeese, Fumo, Percel(sic?) etal, will join Mike Veon in the 'out of office' league.
:We pass legislation that prevents their like from being recycled into the lobbiest ranks.
:We Democrats demand the same standards of performance & behavior that we might lord over the Republicans.
:Our legislators actually work on policies that benefit the majority of citizens rather that protect their own incumbency.
:That we somehow transcend the urbanites vs suburbanites vs rural residents debate which serves no one well except the incumbent legislators.
:That serious legislative size reduction is voted on. This might help ameliorate the above divide.
By saying you'd pay any price for transparency, It seems like you don't think both fair taxes and transparency are possible at the same time.
Get Real
Accolades to you, Representative Shapiro. I am also a 'true' Democrat and I am willing to pay any price for the institution of "tranceparency." With the country and state hiding their legislative attempts in the 'night' and behind closed rooms, the mere attempt at reform is a light for hope that the democracy of the past may recover. Why the word taxes seems to engulph people into tirades of helplessness is beyonf my 'ken.' When will citizens realize that they cannot receive anything from government unless it is paid for. The Tax worriers need not wory if government is open to any scrutiny at any time. So, I sugest that those people stop crying and get in step with reformers like you so that there need not be any more" taxtears."
You say "reform is not dead" but you fail to say in which ways reform is not dead. My taxes are going up, with no end in sight, and I'm told they might go up more to pay for other people's health insurance. Which might be ok, but my health insurance premiums are also going up. I pay my student loans, and then see state legislators partying at fancy resorts I could never afford with money that might have made my own burden a little less. My rent just went up, the amount I pay for gasoline has gone up, food costs are going up, and I can't see that anything the government is doing has any positive benefit for me. Except that they're not giving themselves an exorbitant raise, which is hardly something to pat yourselves on the back for. I'm all for paying my fair share, but I'm paying MORE than my fair share and I'm not alone. So when you say "reform is not dead" what exactly do you mean, and how exactly will that help my bottom line? "Openness and transperency" ... so if we know exactly what we're looking for, we'll be more able to catch you guys with your hand in the till? Yeah, very helpful.
I'm a loyal Democrat. Especially because of Bush's nonsense, I vote a straight Dem ticket. But if my costs keep going up, I don't know how much longer this is going to be true. I think it's time for the party to do something to earn my loyalty.